Pacers notes: High-flying Paul George picks up weekly honor

Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (24) dunks during an NBA basketball game between the Indiana Pacers and the Los Angeles Clippers in Indianapolis, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014. The Pacers won 106-92.(Photo: (AP Photo/AJ Mast))

OAKLAND, Calif. On Monday, the NBA announced Indiana Pacers forward Paul George as the Eastern Conference Player of the Week. In games played from Monday, Jan. 13 through Sunday, Jan. 19, George averaged 30.7 points per game during the three Pacers' wins. Even more, George shot 57 percent from the floor, eradicating the stretch of poor shooting nights before the breakout week.

"People talked about that he was struggling a little bit and he wanted to prove everybody wrong, it seems like," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. "To see what he did (Saturday) – 36 points in 35 minutes, to score 36 points on 17 shots, that's remarkable. So I think that's what probably impressed me the most."

Besides shooting efficiently, George also showed why he's considered one of the best two-players in the game today. Over those three games, George matched up against elite scorers like New York's Carmelo Anthony and Los Angeles' J.J. Redick and played lock-down defense.

"Anytime my defense is going my offense starts to click and starts to get rolling," George said. "So, I think it's the defense time in and time out, having to guard the best players and the best shooters and the toughest guys in this league is what I get impressed with myself."

Now the wait begins

With the end of the NBA All-Star balloting on Monday night at 11:59 p.m. ET, now certain Pacers and the Golden State Warriors start the waiting game.

The Warriors are looking for point guard Stephen Curry to become the first player in the franchise since 1995 to start in an All-Star game. The third returns of the ballot revealed Curry as the second-leading vote getter among Western Conference guards.

Indiana will certainly have an All-Star starter in George, but how many other participants? That question will be answered on Thursday during a one-hour special edition of TNT NBA Tip-Off at 7 p.m. ET. Before then, Vogel can help the matter with a little campaigning for his players.

"You don't go out of your way but you definitely reach out to the other coaches who are doing the voting," Vogel said, "and support your guys' case.

"Our guys work extremely hard to achieve the team success we've had. I think they should receive recognition on an individual level with something like the All-Star game. With Paul George and Roy Hibbert being the leaders of guys who completely deserve to be there and David West and Lance Stephenson deserve a strong consideration as well."

Get well, Vince

The moment Vogel exited the visitor's locker room to conduct his pregame interview, he immediately asked for a reporter from the San Francisco Chronicle. Vogel wanted the local reporter, so that his message reached an old friend.

For at least two decades, a charter bus driver named Vince has ushered visiting NBA teams from their San Francisco hotels to the downtown Oakland Arena. However, Vogel learned on Sunday that Vince – he doesn't know his last name, only that the man is "one of the friendliest bus drivers in the league" – had fallen ill.

"Ever since I've been in the league, 17-18 years," Vogel said, recalling how long he has known the driver. "We didn't see him this (time) and asked, 'What happened to Vince?' He had a heart attack. So he's recovering now.

"So if you're interested," Vogel told local reporters, " tell him we all want him to get well soon. We miss him."